Freshmen, other new faces contribute for Miami Hurricanes

Al Golden said he wanted to play a lot of different players against FAU, and he certainly did.

The Hurricanes played 15 brand-new players, ranging from fifth-year seniors to true freshmen. Here’s a rundown on how they performed:

* True freshman linebacker Alex Figueroa, who enrolled last January and participated in spring drills, posted five tackles. That was second on the team behind Denzel Perryman (six). Figueroa rotated at strong-side linebacker with junior Thurston Armbrister.

* True freshman defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad stood out as a pass-rushing defensive end on third down, and contributed to kickoff coverage. He did not record a tackle, but got in the quarterback’s face several times.

“As the game kept going on, I got a little more comfortable and confident,” said Muhammad, who has not seemed to lack confidence in the two opportunities reporters have had to interview him (UM’s media day and after Friday’s game). “Next week, I can really do me and be the real Al-Quadin Muhammad.”

* True freshman running back Gus Edwards entered in the fourth quarter and ripped off a 16-yard run on his first touch. Miami used Edwards (6-foot-2, 230 pounds) to pound it in from the 2, but Edwards earned one net yard on four straight carries and the Hurricanes turned it over on downs.

True freshmen who played Friday are no longer eligible for a standard redshirt this season. They could still qualify for a “medical redshirt” if they play in four games or less, do not play beyond the sixth game (in UM’s case, Oct. 17 at North Carolina) and can prove a legitimate injury.

Miami also received contributions from several veterans making their Hurricanes debuts.

Defensive end David Gilbert, a graduate transfer from Wisconsin, jumped on a forced fumble late in the third. That led to a UM touchdown which made it 34-6. Gilbert combined with Ufomba Kamalu, a defensive tackle out of junior college, for a sack in the fourth quarter.

Defensive tackle Justin Renfrow, a graduate transfer from Virginia, recorded a tackle. Renfrow was Curtis Porter’s backup at nose tackle.

Punter Pat O’Donnell, a graduate transfer from Cincinnati who played at Palm Beach Central High, averaged 44.8 yards on punts and had two touchbacks. O’Donnell placed each of his seven kickoffs inside the 3, with three touchbacks.

Redshirt freshman cornerback Nate Dortch had a tackle. Junior tight end Beau Sandland, who transferred from junior college, did not record a stat. Likewise redshirt freshman receiver D’Mauri Jones, who did commit an illegal block penalty on special teams.